Today, points are shared on fellowship and quality conversations within the church. For the followers of Jesus Christ, fellowship may be described as inclusive (i.e., without restrictions to membership such as social and economic status, ethnicity, national origin, race), promissory (appears and continues on the basis of promises), and sacrificial (requires freely giving, willingness to answer every demand without regard to cost, and full surrender to divinity). One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers (Canada)” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shared) posted the following:
As a Christian, how do you have conversations and not sin?
As a Christian, how do you have conversations and not be boring, because you can get to gossiping or judging people eventually if you talk too much. After a while you might run out things to talk about such as the weather, sports, etc. So as a Christian are we to be quiet most of the time?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (1st Corinthians 14: 39-40, New International Version, NIV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Quality of Life? (03/29/2017); Family Likeness and Traits? (11/08/2016); Presumption, Pride and Sin? (11/24/2015); An Eternity of Worshipping? (07/22/2014); Grace is Not Against Law (07/23/2014); Miracles and Visitations? (03/03/2014); All Lying Forbidden? (03/04/2014)
“Anonymous”, the same oneness without sameness that appears among the persons of the GODhead, also should appear among those who are members of the body of Christ (we say, the church). What Christian believers are to say to one another should appear as expressions of their faith, discovery, duty, prophecy, sacred purpose, divine truth, and shared understanding. Believers all begin as sinners who willingly acknowledge need for GOD to make permanent changes to the process and workings of their own consciousness and self-will. There must be a death, burial, and resurrection (so to speak), of their inborn spirit, whereby they become sons and daughters of GOD by having divine DNA. Once born again, the sinner is an offspring of divinity, an heir with Christ, and a new creation. Even so, those “born again” must “grow up again” on the earth, and mature as vessels displaying aspects from the makeup of Deity. Included are faith, forbearance, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin. There are many wonderful topics for discussion and exchange among believers. Because everyone can pursue study of the holy writings, there are many exciting lessons and thoughtful questions that provide focus for exchange and interaction with other believers. Consider again the following counsels from the holy writings (Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®):
(1.) Colossians 4: 5-6, New International Version (NIV): 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
(2.) Jeremiah 9: 23-24, NIV: 23 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
(3.) 1st Corinthians 14: 18-20, NIV: 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
(4.) Matthew 20: 27-28, NIV: 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Of course there is far more to be said, carefully considered, and fully embraced. (For example (5.) Colossians 3: 1-10, NIV: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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